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PHILADELPHIA — While stats suggested the Philadelphia Eagles needed to overhaul their defense, they only made a few changes. And they are expecting vast improvement.

Safety Malcolm Jenkins, cornerback Nolan Carroll and first-round pick Marcus Smith are the major additions for a defense that was the worst in franchise history in yards allowed. The 6,304 yards the Eagles gave up were 15th-most in NFL history and the 4,636 passing yards were fifth-most.